Two side serpentine flow based photovoltaic-thermal-phase change materials (PVT-PCM) system: Energy, exergy and economic analysis

Amalgamation of thermal collector at the back of PV overcomes with low energy conversion efficiency issue upto some extent and improves overall efficiency of the systems. Use of phase change materials (PCM) in PV/T collectors as an intermediate thermal storage media offers a promising solution to this problem by storing large amount of heat. The aim of this research work was to design and develop a photovoltaic/thermal-phase change materials (PV/T-PCM) system and evaluate its energy, exergy and economic performance. Lauric acid as PCM contained in leak-proof aluminum foil packets are placed around the flow channel allowing extended period of thermal storage. The PV/T-PCM system has been studied at different volume flow rates viz. 0.5-4 L per minutes (LPM) to get the optimized performance of the system. Maximum thermal efficiency of PV/T-PCM collector was found to be 87.72% at 2 LPM. Maximum electrical efficiency of PV and PV/T-PCM systems has been found to be 9.88% and 11.08% (4LPM) respectively. The maximum exergy efficiency of PV and PV/T-PCM system has been found 7.09% and 12.19% (0.5 LPM) respectively. An economic analysis of the proposed system has also been carried out with a view to examine the feasibility of its commercialization. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.